OPTI 447

OPTI 447. Optical Physics  (3). Review of math and classical mechanics, atomic models, Lorentz model, EM propagation, optical properties of dielectrics and metals, magneto- and electro-optics, concepts of nonlinear optics. P, PHYS 241, MATH 223, MATH 254, MATH 322, OPTI 280, OPTI 310, and OPTI 330.

Instructor

Professor Ewan M. Wright
College of Optical Sciences
Meinel Bldg. Rm. 626
Email: ewan.wright@optics.arizona.edu
Webpage: http://www.optics.arizona.edu/Wright/
Phone: 520-621-2406

Office Hours: Official office hours are Tues. & Thurs. 12:00-1:00 pm, but if am available I will be happy to speak with students if they stop by my office.

Class Schedule

Classes are from 11:00 -11:50 am each MWF in Rm. 432 of the Meinel building. The first lecture will be on Wednesday, January 13, 2010.  All electronic devices such as cell phones, beepers etc. must be turned of during class. 

Overall course objectives and expected learning outcomes

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the ideas of optical physics, in particular the basics of light-matter interactions in the form of the Lorentz oscillator model.  From this perspective several of the optical interactions students have previously encountered as seemingly independent effects, eg. optical dispersion or magneto-optics, can be seen as emerging from the same underlying set of physical ideas.  This class shall therefore bolster the student’s physical understanding of optical interactions, laying a more basic foundation for understanding many optical effects utilized in optical engineering and photonics.  As such this class may be useful for students considering graduate studies.

At the end of the class students should be conversant with several basic concepts required for the further study of physical optics including:

• Basics of light-matter interactions, atomic models
• Lorentz oscillator model, mechanical effects of light
• Optical properties of dielectrics and metals
• Magneto-optics and optical activity
• Crystal optics and electro-optics
• Basic concepts of nonlinear optics
   

These topics are seminal to the continued study of optical physics.  An important component of the class is that students will be required to explore several of the important results from the class using Matlab based numerical examples,  the required computing skills being compatible with what you have covered in Opti 280.

Grading

The final grade shall be based on homework and exams as follows:

• Homework - 33%
• Midterm - 33%
• Final – 33%

The homework will be made available as a pdf file through my web page
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/Wright/opti447login.htm . The problems are designed to have you explore the material covered during the preceding week.  Some problems will involve plotting examples of important formulae using Matlab.  Solution sets will also be posted on my webpage.

The homework problems are designed to teach you the topics covered in class by challenging you to solve problems that will require you to explore and use the material covered in class. Each student must submit an independent and structured solution set that clearly displays that you have understood the problem and its solution. A badly structured solution set that nonetheless leads to a correct final answer may well get a worse grade than a well organized solution set that conveys that the student has understood the problem and its solution but goes astray and leads to a wrong answer. Poorly legible solution sets will not be assigned a score (the same goes for exams).

There will be an in-class, closed book and notes, midterm exam accounting for 33% of the final grade, and a final accounting for 33% of the final grade. A missed test may be made up, but only with a written medical excuse or family emergency (made known to me before the test is given).  NO OTHER EXCUSES will be accepted.

Calculators (with no text stored) may be used during the tests and final exam.  No other form of electronic device may be used (no computers, laptops, PDA's, etc). Cell phones are absolutely prohibited during tests and the final exam.

Late Policy

All homework is due at the beginning of class (11:00am) on the due date.  Anything turned in after that will be considered late (unless specified otherwise).

Late homework may be turned in as late as the beginning of the next class after which it was originally due, but NO LATER since the solution sets will be made available at that time.  (Work due on a Wednesday may be turned in as late as the start of class the next Friday.  Work due on a Friday may be turned in as late as the start of class the next Monday, at the main lecture). The maximum attainable grade for late homework is 50 %.

Absence policy

It is very important to attend all possible lectures to obtain maximum benefit from the class. In cases where I become aware of excessive absences I shall first alert the student involved and the Academic Office to the situation and if it continues an E grade shall be awarded.  Exceptions will be made for absences due to religious holidays or special events with which a student is affiliated, or absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students.

Textbooks:

• Hecht, Optics (4^th Edition).
• Fowles, Introduction to Modern Optics (2^nd Edition).

Classroom Behavior and policies

Threatening behavior by anyone will not be tolerated.  If I perceive that someone is acting in a threatening manner during this semester, I will immediately report that person to the Campus Police and to the Dean of Students.  Please maintain a civil and collegial demeanor with all individuals so that we can all profit from the educational experience offered at the University.

Cell phones are absolutely prohibited during tests and the final exam, and are to be turned off during every class.

No talking during class, except when asking questions or during class discussions.  Whispering to your neighbor is incredibly disruptive to the entire class, and won’t be tolerated.

Food and drink are prohibited in the classroom.

Policy on plagiarism:  Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form.